"Battle" or "Massacre"? Words matter, especially when labeling historical events. That's the big idea in a lesson about the 1868 conflict at the Washita River. After examining two images of the event, groups read and discuss articles about the conflict. Using what they have learned throughout the lesson, craft a caption for one of the images they make, whether they see the conflict as a battle or a massacre.

Concepts

primary source analysis, primary source images, primary sources, native american culture, native american history, american history, oklahoma, reservations

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Instructional Ideas

• Use during Native American Heritage Month in November

Classroom Considerations

• Presumes learners have prior knowledge of the Second Indian Removal and the controversies surrounding the reservation system
• Requires copies and projection equipment for the two images and the PowerPoint

Pros

• The teacher's notes include samples of student responses to the readings
• The notes also include additional scaffolding for those learners that might need such support

Cons

• None